Peter’s Report in Jerusalem

1Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, [†]those who were circumcised took issue with him, 3saying, “You [†]went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4But Peter began speaking [†]and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, saying, 5“I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, [†]an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from heaven, and it came right down to me, 6and when looking closely at it, I was observing it and saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the [†]sky. 7And I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise up, Peter; [†]slaughter and eat.’ 8But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing defiled or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider defiled.’ 10And this happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into heaven. 11And behold, immediately three men appeared at the house in which we were, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12And the Spirit told me to go with them [†]without taking issue at all. These six brothers also went with me and we entered the man’s house. 13And he reported to us how he had seen the angel [†]standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter; 14and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. 16And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized [†]with the Holy Spirit.’ 17Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could prevent God’s way?” 18And when they heard this, they [†]quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

The Church in Antioch

19So then those who were scattered because of the [†]persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way [†]to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. 20But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the [†]Greeks also, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus. 21And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22Now the [†]news about them [†]reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off [†]to Antioch, 23who, when he arrived and saw the grace of God, rejoiced and began to encourage them all with a purposeful heart to remain true to the Lord; 24for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a considerable crowd was [†]brought to the Lord. 25And he left for Tarsus to search for Saul; 26and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it happened that for an entire year they [†]met with the church and taught a considerable crowd. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

27Now in those days, some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28And one of them named Agabus stood up and indicated [†]by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine all over the [†]world. [†]And this took place in the reign of Claudius. 29And as any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the service of the brothers living in Judea. 30And this they did, sending it [†]in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.